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by Diane Lee Wilson
Historical Fiction
291 pages
“On the morning of September 16, 1860, my pa shot me. Maybe that’s what set him to running, and, later, me to galloping.” Imagine that you’re riding along the Oregon Trail and your own pa shoots you and runs on your only horse.
Colton Wescott is 13 year old boy that must grow up real fast because when the Wescott’s decide to move their family to California in search of Colton’s aunt to give her freedom papers. On September 16, 1860 Colton and his Pa were sitting on the wagon bench when his pa shot him. After his pa leaves Colton’s ma gets sick and her baby dies. They arrive in a town called Chinatown. While the doctor helps his ma, Colton needs to make money and while his walking down the board walk he sees his opportunity in big letters “PONY EXPRESS RIDER WANTED IN CARLSON CITY”. The next night Colton slipped out the window leaving his sick mother and young sisters. When he gets there he has to try out for the job. He gets the job and that leads to be an interesting exploration, and chain of events.
Colton is a 13 year old boy. He is smart, stubborn, skinny, and thin. He is close with his with his father, mother, his two younger sisters, and there horse named Ned. He is an interesting character because he always gets doubted by his looks, but somehow he will prove them wrong that he can do anything any other person can do or better. He doesn’t like giving up either, if he doesn’t do something of his expectations he restarts it all over till he does like.
Something I took from this book is don’t let someone criticize you just because you are too small, too big, too weird, or too normal. I think Colton shows that the comments and criticism can motivate you to prove someone wrong, and to feel good about it. I also like that it shows how much some kids had to grow up and help out with the family in the past and even today. Many kids have a job to help the family to put food on the table, and supporting the bills.
Off hand I can’t think of a book related. If you like western books I would recommend Louis L’Amour he has a lot of good books like the Sackett series, West of Dodge, and The Trail to Crazy horse are some of the few he has written.
- Reviewed by Zach W
React to this Review Great Rivers Regional Library
Hennepin County Library
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